Recruitment

Bonhams have announced a series of senior management changes for their European operations. They include the appointment of former deputy chairman Matthew Girling in the new role of Bonhams CEO Europe.

Bonhams, who have recently taken on a number of staff from Sotheby’s, have announced that Christie’s two most senior motoring directors and one of its motoring consultants will join their car department on November 1.

JUDITH Miller, the face of the most successful antiques book publishing operation, is returning to the publishers where she started out in 1979.

Bonhams have announced a major strengthening and enlargement of the ceramics department at their New Bond Street rooms with the immediate appointment of two former Sotheby’s specialists.

Bonhams are to take advantage of Sotheby’s decision to end Japanese sales by recruiting their top specialist and consultant.

CHICAGO-based art event promoter Mark Lyman has been appointed vice president of International Fine Arts Expositions (IFAE) by owner dmg world media. IFAE’s American flagship event is The Palm Beach Fair and Palmbeach Contemporary Art Fair.

Sotheby’s have opened an office in Moscow and appointed Mikhail Kamensky, a former director and presidential advisor to the Bank of Moscow, as managing director.

Founding partner Rémy Le Fur has left ArtCurial, where he was in charge of sales of furniture and objets d’art, and notably secured the prestigious Rossignol Collection, the most important furniture sale in Paris during the 2005-06 season.

PAUL Barthaud, who has just stepped down as executive director of Spink, is the new chief operating officer for the Fine Art Auction Group.

Personnel changes are afoot in the silver departments of two of London’s major auction houses.

LAPADA have appointed Rebecca Hossack of London’s Rebecca Hossack Gallery (RHG) as a director. The Australian-born dealer in Contemporary pictures, sculpture, jewellery and decorative arts is the first Contemporary specialist to join the association’s board.

Following the decision of Thames Valley estate agents Simmons and Son to concentrate upon their core business, a new firm of fine art auctioneers and valuers has been established in Watlington.

François Tajan, who quit as chairman of Tajan SA, the firm founded by his father Jacques, at the end of March, has joined Paris rivals ArtCurial.

Baroness Rawlings of Burnham Westgate has accepted the invitation of the British Antique Dealers’ Association to become their new president. She will replace Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville who has filled the role since 1995.

TWO long-term directors of auctioneers Rosebery's are to leave southeast London to pursue a career offering antiques themed breaks from a Pyrenean château.

THE management team of IFAE’s Palm Beach shows is to take on new responsibilities as Lorenzo Rudolf takes on a new role in the organisation.

LAST week I reported how Kensington porcelain specialist Simon Spero was moving following the termination of his lease.

François Tajan, chairman and principal auctioneer of Tajan SA, France’s leading auction firm for many years, is quitting the company and will leave at the end of April.

VISCOUNT Linley has joined Christie’s as a non-executive director.

The venerable Mayfair dealership The Fine Art Society, whose Bond Street premises are currently undergoing stage two of a refurbishment, has announced two youthful appointments to its board of directors.